NASA spacecraft puts record for the nearest approach to the sun

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Parker Solar Probe is now closer to the sun than spacecraft has ever received.Parks on…

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is now closer to the sun than spacecraft has ever received.

Parks on Monday exceeded the record of 26.6 million miles (43 million miles) as Helios-2 back in 1976. And it will continue to get closer to the sun until it flies through the corona or outer atmosphere for the first time next week as passes within 24 million kilometers (24 million kilometers) of the sun surface.

Parker will make 24 close approaches to the sun for the next seven years, which eventually reaches only 3.8 million miles (6 million miles).